AmeriCorps Firewall is chosen as one of ten Florida-based AmeriCorps programs to be welcomed into the Corporation for National and Community Service for the 2016-2017 program year
DAVIE, Fla. (August 15, 2016) – Firewall Centers was recently awarded an AmeriCorps grant by the Corporation for National and Community Service for the 2016/17 school year. This funding will support 35 AmeriCorps Firewall members who will serve by tutoring, mentoring, and modeling positive behaviors to their group of students.
“AmeriCorps funding and resources will allow Firewall to more effectively reach underserved communities, meet low-income students’ needs, and even expand organizational activities,” said Rachel Taylor, Firewall Centers’ Development Director.
The funding was administered by Volunteer Florida, the Florida Commission on Community Service, who grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps programs like Firewall.
Altogether, AmeriCorps Firewall members will serve over 400 disadvantaged middle school and high school students that attend Broward County Public Schools. Upon successful completion of the 2016/17 service year, they will also be granted an Education Award that can be used towards college tuition or student loans.
“AmeriCorps members selected to serve demonstrate that they live a lifestyle centered on giving back. They are the future leaders of our community and ideal role models to the students they will mentor at Firewall,” said Taylor.
Firewall Centers is a Florida-based nonprofit whose mission is to help disadvantaged students achieve academic success, build character, and transform into servant leaders. Its program model is designed to target students’ school attendance, behavior and course performance outcomes beginning in their sixth grade year and continuing through their high school graduation.
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About Firewall Centers
Firewall was established in 2003 in response to the death of a thirteen year old girl who overdosed on drugs while left unsupervised during after-school hours. Ever since, the agency has been operating daily school-based tutoring and mentoring centers for at-risk students that instill character values and promote academic success, supporting them as they strive toward their greatest potential. For the 2016/2017 school year, Firewall’s T.H.I.N.K. (Take charge, Have a plan, Involve the right people, Never quit, Keep giving back) Leadership program has eight Centers and is serving 400 Broward county students. The program’s overarching objective is to improve performance outcomes among at-risk students as related to their school attendance, behavior, and course performance, thus helping them to ultimately achieve self-sufficiency as they pursue their life goals. You can learn more about Firewall and how you can get involved at www.firewallcenters.org or follow them at www.facebook.com/firewallcenters.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations at 15,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Since 1994, more than 820,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service to their communities and country through AmeriCorps.
About Volunteer Florida
Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteers and donations in a disaster; and inspires all Floridians to serve their communities. For more information, visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.
